Any businesses redeveloping or refurbishing premises need to be aware of new rules surrounding Completion Notices that came into force at the end of last year (Dec 23).
Completion Notices can now be issued by a Billing Authority(local council) for a property that has been deleted due to redevelopment or refurbishment but, in their view, is now completed or could be completed within three months. This is regardless of whether structural alterations have been made or not. Completion notices were previously exclusively used to bring ‘new’ buildings into the rating list prior to them being occupied but this change now gives more power to Billing Authorities.
A copy of the Completion Notice will be sent to the owner by the Billing Authority with a copy also sent to the Valuation Office Agency who will determine the rateable value of the property re-entering the rating list. The rateable value and effective date of the entry in rating list will be confirmed to the Billing Authority whom will issue the resultant rates demands. The clock will begin to tick, on any initial three or six-month exemption period, from the date confirmed on the completion notice which will be the effective date of the entry in the rating list.
After the exemption period awarded expires, the ratepayer will be once again liable for a full charge of business rates unless the property is occupied or entitled to a further exemption.
Given the 4-week appeal window for completion notices, it is crucial that the validity of the notice is reviewed to ensure the date recorded on the notice is valid.
If you would like advice on Completion Notices and exemptions, please contact Dunlop Heywood for advice on 0161 817 4840 or via email info@dunlopheywood.com